Family Group Posing

Lesson 14 of 33

Shoot: Combine Family Members on Furniture

Family Group Posing

Lesson 14 of 33

Shoot: Combine Family Members on Furniture

Lesson Info

Shoot: Combine Family Members on Furniture

So Kai, I didn't get you. Let's do this, Buddy. So, you know what you're gonna do? I'm gonna move this couch a little bit here. Why don't you go up, just a few steps, Bud. And bring that actually back, that's gonna go, nope. We're gonna put it at an angle, thanks! Perfect, that's great. So Kai, you get to sit just like this. You don't even have to smile. Alright, you just look right back at me at the camera. There we go. Thank you. Okay, so let's real quick. Awesome, Dude. So, what we're gonna do, so hands are always a big thing, so like people, a couple things with women, I tend to see a lot of hair ties, I always watch for. I see some laughs, you all run in- I always look for that. And hands, people never know what to do with hands. I tend to like the hands clasped a little bit more. So yep, just like this, Buddy, just, and you get to lean forward even more on your legs. Oh yeah, I love that, and kinda pull your jacket a little bit. There we go, you're gonna lean forward. Awesome, ca...

n you lean forward on your legs even a little more? Sweet, so cool. (camera shutter) What a great look, let's see, right there. (camera shutter) Don't you smile at me! No, don't you smile at me! Uh uh, no way, Kai, don't show me your teeth. Oh wait, you don't have teeth? (laughter) Can you say, "Dad has stinky feet?" Dad has stinky feet. Oh, there's that smile. Looking right at me. I'm just kiddin', there we go, perfect, okay. You rocked it, that was great. Who? I didn't get Ms. Riley. Riley, let's get you. And so what I'm gonna have Riley do really quick. So Kai, you're up. Riley, you get to lay on the couch straight at me. What I don't want you to do, I don't want you to stick your feet in the air, okay? I know that's what we all want to do. But keep your feet down and flat. Awesome, and it's just more up close, so let your feet fall down, yep. And yep, just kinda wrap your arms around each other, give yourself a nice little hug. I love that, you look beautiful. Perfect, and this is another thing, so right now, her hands are doing this. So fingers, I kinda watch that. So just let your fingers go together. And you can even maybe tuck a hand in a little bit. There we go. (camera shutter) Hold on, let's go. I'm gonna have you try that serious, quiet smile. So not mad, just nice and quiet. (camera shutter) Turn your face a little more to the right. Eyes right at me. Now can I get that real smile? Huh, that's not, there it is! Gorgeous! (camera shutter) And let's do this. Let's have you sit up a little taller, then can you, so this is another thing. So I'm not a big fan of this, hands on the faces, or this. So either, I try to make the hands smaller by kind of this, maybe it's back on the neck. So, put 'em maybe on the other side, right there, perfect. So, it's just way less hands, looks way better. Chin up a little bit at me, Sweetie, and turn your face a little bit to the right. Now I want you to work it. Give me some smile, oh there she is. Can you stand on the couch? Yes. Awesome, with a little bit of sass. Uh oh, she's got some sass, I love the laugh, see and then she laughs, I love it. That's adorable, perfect, can you sit on the couch, in the back corner? Safely, just don't fall. Cool, I like that, that's kinda fun. Great, and let your knees kinda together, your feet kinda can go out, and you're like leaning, leaning at me. Yep, cool. Bring your hands kinda out like your- Cute. How bout your other hand too, can your other hand come out a little bit? Oh I love that! Now I want those real smiles. Give me a fake laugh. (laughter) That's cute. Perfect, chin down, and more quiet. Real quiet, turn your face to the left a little bit, Riley. Turn your face a little bit to the left. Right there, awesome, good job. And so I think the only person I didn't get- Do you think we're ready with Kiomo. (baby crying) Maybe, maybe. That's okay, let's do this. We're gonna set the stage. That's okay, let's set the stage. I'm gonna photograph Dad. We'll keep it turned, this is good. Dad, with the kids. And then when you're ready, I'd love to still try to get all of you. So, did I photograph you just with all the kids? Or just with Kai? Oh wait, I guess we don't have Kiomi, so that's fine, that's fine. So I'm gonna have you, sit, I'm gonna have you sit on the couch here. So I'm not gonna have Dad lay down. That to me wouldn't be the masculine pose, that's really better for Mom. But I think for Dad, my favorite pose, I mean it's like no rocket science, but I think looks great with guys. So you're gonna sit up tall.
Right here? Yep, and uh huh, and so we're gonna bring for sure at least one of your daughters. I'm thinking Kioko. Kioko, come on. Come here, yep, I'm gonna have- Oh thank you. I have another one you can even take with you when we're all done.
Yeah! Awesome, okay, so you get to be right here in front of Daddy. Riley, you're in here too, Sweetie. So what we're gonna do. And so like I said, I really do this like a puzzle. I'm posing them here, I have no idea what it's looking like from here. I'll go back and I'll rearrange if I need to. So I'm just doing what I think is gonna look great. You're gonna scoot all the way into this back corner. Cause we're gonna let, Riley, you're gonna sit right where I am. See what I'm doing? And you're gonna snuggle up on Daddy like this. So and then, Kai, and she can actually, she can stand, Might work better, so sometimes with dresses and bulky clothing, when you're sitting, it's bunching up around their necks. There we go, that'll be better.
Tuck her in.
Tuck it in? And Kai, I'm actually, rather than sitting like that, I'm gonna have you sit up on the couch, and put your back to Dad. Sit with your legs criss-cross, apple sauce, and put your back to Dad. So I love that, rather than everybody straight at me, all the time, I'll put their backs up against each other. So I'm gonna have you turn even more, so your back, bring both feet up. Can you sit like that, or just one leg? Or just like that even, cool. And then use Dad like a wall, act like Dad is a wall. You're gonna scoot your bottom all the way back up to him. And sit nice and tall, oh nice, Dude! I love that, and then you My Dear, what happens if you sit up on this? Can you sit up on this okay? No you're okay. Perfect, and you're gonna really snuggle down on Dad. Let me see what that, and then you're gonna bring Kioko, your arms wrapped over her arms.
Nope, turn around, sit up straight, come on. Oh I love that. Kai, can you bend your leg up a little bit for me? Cool you guys look awesome. And then Kioko, oh, nice and tall, you look awesome. I gotta, there we go, perfect, let me just check one thing. Oh yeah, that'll work, good. Riley, watch so, Riley, I want you to turn your face this way, and really lean over Dad more, turn your face into him. Turn your face into him. Yep, lean over more, yep, I love that. Kai, I need you looking right at me, Bud. This one's your quiet smile. This one's no teeth, nice and quiet. (camera shutters) Riley, or Kai, can you lay your head right up against Dad? And then, Kioko, I need you to hold Daddy's arms. Stand tall, don't let Dad fall down, hold him, hold him. Just like that, oh shh, quiet, shh, shh, Kioko. Look right up here, Sweetheart. (camera shutters) Now look at each other! Huggle, huggle, squeeze, squeeze, whoo, look at each other! That's super fun, Kai, look up at Dad. And then, actually Chris, you look down, kinda down at your kiddos, yep. And then I need all the kiddos looking at me. Perfect, let's pull Kioko back a little bit. Looking right here, Riley. Kai, can you lay your head right up against Dad, yep. Keep looking down for one, Chris. (dog cries) (camera shutter) Uh oh, I hear somebody. We gonna get your doggie out in a minute. Okay, looking right here, looking right here, Sweetie, Kioko. Right at me, right at me, right at me, Babe. Right there. (camera shutter)

Class Description

Taking a great portrait of one person can be a challenge, but how do you capture an entire family looking their most authentic selves? Well-known family and children photographer Vicki Taufer will show you how to focus on the relationships and keep your clients relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera.

Vicki will show you:

What props and gear you should have on hand to bring out the best in your group posing

How to shoot with natural light as well as in the studio, and what lighting you’ll need to highlight all group sizes

How to make your clients feel comfortable before the shoot to get authentic images

The most efficient workflow to make your post-processing work for you

Whether it’s a group of children with pets or the extended family with grandparents and cousins, Vicki will give you the confidence to tackle any situation and provide your client with images that they’ll want to purchase and hang on their walls for years to come.

DOlores RUsso

All I have to say is - Vicki you are a saint. To handle four kids, dog and their parents too, not to mention a class of students watching...AND YOU'RE TAKING PHOTOS, GOOD ONES!! All I know is, I could not handle that as you have even though I was a teacher for 25 years (K-12, all of them) - and wonderful people like you are far and few between. May you stay healthy and happy and continue interacting with kids and parents - you really have a talent! (I had to turn the sound off on the vid because it was driving me crazy,, with kids, dog, etc etc!)

user-01901f

Fantastic posing class, loved watching Vicki in action. There are so many little things she said to the families she was photographing that really made all of the difference. Jed's product template creation and backend streamlining segment was great too!

Elizabeth Harrigan

I absolutely loved the course!!! The teacher was extremely engaging, so much so, I lost track of time...
I learned more from this course than any other I have subscribed to. Both Vicki and her husband are positive and passionate in their delivery. They also have developed a level of expertise and a passion to share their knowledge honestly. It wasn't about ego, but rather, a genuine helpful attitude, which was so refreshing!